Self-aligning rotary kiln



May 8, @-953 s. w. TRAYLOR, JR 2,551,774

SELF- ALICN'LNG ROTARY KILN File-d Deo. 22, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 8, 1951 s; w. `TRAYLOR, JR 2,551,774

SELAF-ALIGNING ROTARY KILN Filed Dec. 22, 1948 4 sheets-sheet 2 May 8, 1951 s. w. TRAYLOR, .1R 2,551,774

' SELF-ALIGNING ROTARY KILN Filed Dec. 22, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 2 2 Z G/Z i EZ /252 #0% 9&2

2 2 2I y Ff@ /5 i Z5 ZL 25 The spherical section 23 of the bearing 20 is surfaced with a suitable bearing metal 24 and rotatably mounted thereon is a support roller 25 which comprises an outer annular tire member 25 and a pair of internal annular supporting rings 21 constructed and arranged as described in the aforesaid patent application. The bearing member 20 may be cooled, for example, by water introduced therein by means of a pipe 28 having an upwardly directed discharge nozzle 29. The overflow water from the bearing passes through a pipe 3E) and is discharged into the cradle 5 where it cools the tire 25 and ultimately drains off through a pipe 3l. Suitable lubrication of the bearing surface 24 may be accomplished by discharging a selected lubricant through a pipe 32.

As previously stated the outer or upper end of the cradle 5 is adapted normally to rest upon and be supported by the upper end of the cylinder Ill. However, in order that the support roller 25 may move upwardly and remain in supporting Contact with its associated riding ring 2 in the event of misalignment of the kiln due to warping or twisting thereof, there is provided in the cylinder l a piston 33 which is urged in the upward direction within the cylinder by means of hydraulic uid maintained under a predetermined pressure. Pivotal contact between the upper end of the piston 33 and the outer end of the cradle 5 is provided by means of a roller 3d which is seated in correspondingly congurated recesses 35 and 35 provided respectively in the underside of the outer end of the cradle and the upper end face of the piston 33.

In accordance with the present invention the piston 33 in the cylinder l0 is actuated upwardly by introducing into the cylinder through a pipe 3l, a suitable hydraulic uid such as, for example, oil under pressure. The hydraulic iluid acting on the piston 33 is maintained at or under a predetermined uniform pressure by means of the use of a suitable accumulator 3S such as, for example, of the well-known Greer type. Connected to the accumulator 38 through a valve 33 is an oil or other hydraulic fluid reservoir 4. Associated with the reservoir i0 is a hand pump which is operated, for example, once or twice yearly to replace fluid which may escape or leak from the hydraulic system depending upon the efficiency of the nt between the piston 33 and cylinder l0. In accordance with the present invention the hydraulic fluid acting on the piston 33 is maintained under a predetermined uniform pressure by the accumulator 38 so that the upward force or lift exerted by the said piston I4 upon the cradle 5 is equal, for example, to approximately 95% or 98% of the portion of the weight of the kiln which normally is borne by the cylinder l0. Consequently, and as previously pointed out, when the kiln l is in perfect alignment the cradle 5 rests upon and is supported by the upper end of the cylinder Ill. However, in the event that the kiln becomes warped or twisted so that it is no longer in perfect alignment and a particular riding ring 2 tends to be lifted out of supporting engagement with its support roller 25 in the normal position of the latter, the hydraulic :duid in the cylinder l0 will cause the piston 33 1ikewise to move upwardly and maintain the roller 25 in engagement with the ring 2 with the result that said roller 25 continues to support, for example, 95% or 98% of its normal share of the weight of the kiln.

In further illustration of the foregoing operation, and with reference to Figs. 6 and 7 of the 4 drawings, there is shown a warped kiln provided with three riding rings 2 and a like number of roller supports therefor. In Fig. 6 the warp is downward in the center of the kiln but the center roller support structure can not be displaced downwardly because its cradles 5 are supported directly upon the unyielding upper ends of the cylinders l5. At the ends of the kiln, however, where the warp of the kiln is in an upward direction away from the normal position of the endwise rollers 25, the hydraulic force acting on the piston 33, for example, being approximately of the normal load, operates to move the endwise pistons 33 upwardly so that the associated rollers 25 are maintained in supporting contact with the endwise riding rings 2 of the kiln and continue to bear their fair share of the load.

With reference to Fig. '7 the kiln l has been rotated 180 from the piston shown in Fig. 6 and just the reverse situation exists. In this position the warp of the kiln is downward at the ends and upward in the middle, the endwise rollers 25 and cradles 5 are seated directly on the unyielding upper ends of the cylinders l0 and the intermediate support structure has been actuated upwardly by the pressure fluid acting on the piston 33 to maintain its roller 25 in supporting contact with the intermediate riding ring 2. The percentage of the normal kiln weight borne by the roller supports associated with each riding ring 2 are given for a 95% counter loading of the pistons 33. Figs. 8 to 13 inclusive, of the drawings, illustrate other possible warp conditions frequently encountered in kilns having a plurality of longitudinally spaced riding rings 2 and roller supports therefor, and in each instance the approximate percentage of normal weight load borne by each support likewise is given for a 95% counter-loading of the pistons 33.

With reference to Fig. 14 of the drawings, there is illustrated the manner in which the kiln is supported when the warp of the kiln is disposed horizontally or in other words following a quarter revolution of the kiln from the vertical warp position shown, for example, in Fig. 13. Thus the right-hand roller 25 moves inwardly to maintain supporting contact with the riding ring 2 and provide, for example, approximately 95 of normal support to the kiln while the other or left-hand roller is slightly over-loaded and supports approximately 105% of the normal load. After a further quarter turn the position of the kiln rotationally will be as in Fig. 12 so that both the right and left-hand rollers of each pair will carry the same or of their normal load and with still another quarter turn the loadings on the rollers will be reversed from that shown in Fig. 14 so that the right-hand roller is over loaded and supports about of the normal load while the left-hand roller supports about 95% of the normal load.

From the foregoing description it will be' observed that the present invention provides a novel roller support construction for the riding rings of rotary kilns which is operable automatically to provide at all times adequate support for the kiln under conditions of both horizontal and vertical misalignment due to longitudinal warping or twisting of the kiln. The invention also provides a novel roller support construction which is operable to support at all times a fair share of the weight of the kiln irrespective of the misalignment or warped condition of the kiln. The invention further provides a roller support construction for kilns having the 'features and advantages set forth which kis characterized by its relatively simplified construction, comparative low cost of manufacture and maintenance and which is highly eicient and fool-proof in operation and use.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure and changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope 'of the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a rotary kiln including a shell having a series of riding rings thereon, rollers to support each ring, a pivoted support for each roller, a member providing an unyielding seat on which said pivot support is adapted normally to rest, and power means acting continuously on said pivoted support in a direction to unseat the same and exerting a force thereon slightly less than the load normally borne by said unyielding seat member.

2. In a rotary kiln including a shell having a series of riding rings thereon, rollers to support each ring, a pivoted support for each roller, a member providing an unyielding seat Yon which said pivoted support is adapted normally to rest, and hydraulic operated means acting continuously on said pivoted support in a direction to unseat the same and exerting a force thereon slightly less than the load normally borne by said unyielding seat member.

3. In a rotary kiln including a shell having a series of riding rings thereon, rollers to support each ring, a pivoted support for each roller, a cylinder providing an unyielding seat on which said pivoted support is adapted normally to rest, and hydraulic operated piston means in said cylinder acting continuously on said pivoted support in a direction to unseat the same and exerting a force thereon slightly less than the load normally borne by said cylinder 4. In a rotary kiln including a cylindrical shell having a series of circumferential riding rings thereon, a pair of relatively spaced rollers to support each ring, a support for each roller disposed transversely oi the shell and mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from said ring, a member disposed normally to be engaged by and provide an unyielding seat for said pivoted support, and a hydraulic ram acting continuously on said pivoted support in a direction to unseat the same.

5. In a rotary kiln including a cylindrical shell having a series of circumferential riding rings thereon, a pair of relatively spaced rollers to support each ring, a support for each roller disposed transversely of the shell and mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from the shell, a cylinder disposed normally to be engaged by and provide an unyielding seat for said pivoted support, a piston in said cylinder, and hydraulic means acting continuously on said piston in the direction of said support, said hydraulic means being under a predetermined uniform pressure calculated to exert on the support a force slightly less than the load normally borne by said cylinder.

6. In a rotary kiln including a cylindrical shell having a series of circumferential riding rings thereon, a pair of relatively spaced rollers to support each ring, a bearing for each roller, a support for each bearing disposed transversely of the shell and mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from the shell, a cylinder disposed normally to be engaged by land provide an unyielding' seat for said support, a piston in said cylinder, and hydraulic means acting 'continuously on said piston in the direction of the support, said hydraulic means being under a predetermined uniform pressure calculated to exert `on the support a force slightly less than the load normally borne by said cylinder.

'l'. In a rotary kiln including a cylindrical shell having a series of circumferential riding rings thereon, a pair of relatively spaced rollers to support each ring, 'a support for each roller disposed transversely of the shell and mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from the shell, a cylinder disposed normally to be engaged by and provide an unyielding seat for said support, a piston in said cylinder, means providing rolling engagement between lsaid piston and support, and hydraulic means acting continuously on said piston in the direction of the support, said hydraulic means being under a predetermined uniform pressure calculated to exert on the Support a force slightly less than the loadnormally borne by said cylinder.

8. In a rotary kiln including a cylindrical shell. having a series of circumferential riding rings; thereon, a pair of relatively spaced rollers to support each ring, a bearing for each roller, a support for each bearing disposed transversely of' the shell and mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from the shell, a cylinder disposed normally to be engaged by and provide an unyielding seat for said support, a piston in said cylinder, means providing pivotal engagement between said piston and support, and hydraulic means acting continuously on said piston in the direction of the support, said hydraulic means` being under a predetermined uniform pressure calculated to exert on the piston a force slightly less than the load normally borne by said cylinder.

9. In a rotary kiln including a cylindrical shell having a series of circumferential riding rings thereon, a pair of supporting cradles disposed in association with each riding ring transversely of the shell at the opposite sides of the axis thereof and mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from said ring, a member providing an unyielding seat for eafch cradle on which the latter is adapted normally to rest, a roller support rotationally mounted in said cradle and engaging the periphery of the riding ring, and power operated means acting continuously on said cradle in a direction to unseat the same and exerting thereon a force slightly less than the load normally borne by said unyielding seat member.

10. In a rotary kiln including a cylindrical shell having a series of circumferential riding rings thereon, a pair of supporting cradles disposed in association with each riding ring transversely of the shell at the opposite sides of the axis thereof and mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from said ring, a member providing an unyielding seat for each cradle on which the latter is adapted normally to rest, a bearing member in said cradle, a roller support journaled on said bearing and engaging the periphery of said ring, and a hydraulic ram acting continuously on said cradle in a direction to unseat the same and exerting thereon force slightly less than the load normally borne by said unyielding seat member.

11. In a rotary kiln including a cylindrical shell having a series of circumferential riding rings thereon, a pair of supporting cradles disposed in association with each riding ring transversely of the shell at the opposite sides of the axis thereof and mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from said ring, a cylinder providing an unyielding seat for each cradle on which the latter is adapted normally to rest, a roller support mounted in said cradle and engaging the periphery of said ring, a piston in said cylinder engaging said cradle, and hydraulic means acting continuously on said piston in the direction of the cradle under a predetermined uniform pressure calculated to exert on the cradle a force slightly less than the load normally borne by said cylinder.

12. In a rotary kiln including a cylindrical shell having a series of circumferential riding rings thereon, a pair of supporting cradles disposed in association with each riding ring transversely of the shell at the opposite sides of the axis thereof and mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from said ring, a cylinder providing an unyielding seat for each cradle on which the latter is adapted normally to rest, a bearing member mounted in said cradle, a roller support journaled on said bearing and engaging the periphery of said ring, a piston in said cylinder engaging said cradle, and hydraulic means acting continuously on said piston in the direction of the cradle under a predetermined uniform pressure calculated to exert on the cradle a force slightly less than the load normally borne by said cylinder.

13. In a rotary kiln including a cylindrical shell having a series of circumferential riding rings thereon, a pair of supporting cradles disposed in association with each riding ring transversely of the shell at the opposite sides of the axis thereof and mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from said ring, a cylinder providing an unyielding seat for each cradle on which the latter is adapted normally to rest, a non-rotatable bearing member having opposite end portions mounted in said cradle and having an enlarged intermediate bearing portion provided with a surface the section of a sphere, a roller support journaled on said spherical bearing portion and engaging the periphery of said ring, a piston in said cylinder engaging said cradle, and hydraulic means acting continuously on said piston in the direction of the cradle under a predetermined uniform pressure calculated to exert on the cradle a force slightly less than the load normally borne by said cylinder.

SAMUEL W. TRAYLOR, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,184,174 Gilbert May 23, 1916 1,290,313 OConnor Jan, 7, 1919 1,547,648 Helbig July 28, 1925 1,728,452 Spitznagel Sept. 17, 1929 

